Sony Recalls VAIO Laptop Computers Due to Burn Hazard

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 30, 2010Release #10-284

Firm's Recall Hotline: (866) 496-7669

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Notebook computers

Units: About 233,000

Manufacturer: Sony Electronics Inc. of San Diego, Calif.

Hazard: The computers can overheat, posing a burn hazard to the consumer.

Incidents/Injuries: Sony has received 30 reports of units overheating resulting in deformed keyboards and casings. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled products are VPCF11 Series and VPCCW2 Series notebook computers. The computers are available in many colors and have "VAIO" on the front outside panel. The model numbers can be found on the bottom of the computers.

The following models are included:

VPCF11 Series

VPCF111FD/B

VPCF111FX/B

VPCF111FX/H

VPCF112FX/B

VPCF112FX/H

VPCF113FX/B

VPCF113FX/H

VPCF114FX/B

VPCF114FX/H

VPCF115FM/B

VPCF115FM/BL

VPCF116FX/B

VPCF116FX/H

VPCF117FX/B

VPCF117FX/B

VPCF117FX/H

VPCF11AFX/B

VPCF11BFX/B

VPCF11CGX/B

VPCF11DGX/B

VPCF11EGX/B

VPCF11FGX/B

VPC11GGX/B

VPCF11HGX/B

VPCF11JFX/B

VPCF11KFX/H

VPCF11LFX/B

VPCF11MFX/B

VPCF11NFX/B

VPCF11PFX/H

VPCF11QFX/B

VPCF11QFX/H

VPCCW2 Series

VPCCW21FX/B

VPCCW21FX/P

VPCCW21FX/R

VPCCW21FFX/W

VPCCW22FX/B

VPCCW22FX/L

VPCCW22FX/P

VPCCW22FX/R

VPCCW22FX/W

VPCCW23FX/B

VPCCW23FX/L

VPCCW23FX/P

VPCCW23FX/R

VPCCW23FX/W

VPCCW26FX/B

VPCCW26FX/L

VPCCW26FX/P

VPCCW26FX/R

VPCCW27FX/B

VPCCW27FX/L

VPCCW27FX/P

VPCCW27FX/R

VPCCW27FX/W

VPCCW28FJ/W

VPCCW2AFX/B

VPCCW2BFX/B

VPCCW2CGX/B

VPCCW2DGX/B

VPCCW2EGX/B

VPCCW2FGX/B

VPCCW2GGX/B

VPCCW2HGX/B

VPCCW2JGX/B

VPCCW2KGX/B

VPCCW2LFX/B

VPCCW2LFX/L

VPCCW2LFX/P

VPCCW2LFX/R

VPCCW2LFX/W

VPCCW2MFX/PU

VPCCW2MFX/WJ

VPCCW2MGX/B

VPCCW2NFX/LU

VPCCW2PFX/L

VPCCW2PFX/R

VPCCW2FX/W

VPCCW2QGX/B

VPCCWERGX/B

VPCCW2SGX/B

VPCCW2TGX/B

VPCCW2UFX/B

VPCCW2VFX/B

Sold at: Best Buy, Costco, Frys, Amazon.com and Sony Style retail stores and sonystyle.com as well as other electronics retailers and business suppliers nationwide. The recalled computers were shipped to consumers and resellers between January 2010 and April 2010. They sold for between $800 and $1,500.

Manufactured in: China and the United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately go to http://esupport.sony.com/US/f1cw2update for instructions on how to update the computer's BIOS firmware. Consumers can also call Sony or visit Sony Style retail stores nationwide for help with installing the update. This firmware will prevent the computer from overheating. The firmware update will also be available through the VAIO Update software program installed on the recalled computers. A prompt will appear when users log on.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of
thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the
nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or
mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household
chemicals -– contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the
Commission.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at
301-595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing
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